Rugby League basics

Rugby League basics
To play and watch Rugby League, it is important to
understand the basics of the game. This football code
has special rules about how to play the game, what to
wear and the skills needed to play.
Playing the game
The aim of the game is to score more points than the
opposition by making tries and kicking goals. The ball is
carried, passed or kicked towards the goal line. A try is scored
by placing the ball on the ground behind the goal line.
Rugby League gear
lt’s a fact!
In Rugby League, a player
must always be behind or
beside a team-mate when
receiving a pass. If a player
is in front of a team-mate
when receiving a
pass, he or she is
offside.
BASICS OF THE GAME
TEAMS
Two teams for each game, 13 players on each team.
FIELD
Players take up special positions at the start of each game. The field is 112–122 metres long and
68 metres wide. There are goalposts at each end. They are placed in the centre of the goal line,
or try line. Touchlines, half-way lines, 10-metre lines and 22-metre lines are all marked.
TIME
Two halves of about 40 minutes each.
SCORING
A try is worth four points. A conversion (a kick for goal after a try is scored) is worth two points.
A penalty goal (a kick for goal awarded by the referee to one team after the other team breaks
a rule) is worth two points. A field goal (a goal kicked during play) is worth one point.
Skills
Scoring a try is an exciting
Rugby League players need
to be strong and fast. They
must have good ball-handling
skills, and must be able to kick
accurately. Most importantly,
they must be able to tackle well,
and be fast enough to outrun
the players on the other team.
part of the game.
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Footbopposition
the team being played against
touchlines the lines along the sides of the
playing field
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Players must wear all the right gear to play in a Rugby League team.
Headgear is sometimes
worn to protect the head
against hard knocks.
The jersey shows the
club’s colours. There is a
different jersey for games
played at home and
games played away.
The mouthguard
protects a player’s
teeth during a game.
Every player must
wear one.
The football is
oval-shaped and
made of leather.
Shorts are loose and
comfortable to wear.
The colour of the shorts
depends on whether
a game is being played
at home or away.
Football boots are perhaps the most
important part of a player’s gear.
Good boots can prevent injuries.
There are studs, or stops, on the
soles of the boots. These give the
boots grip on wet, slippery ground.
Socks are in the
club’s colours.
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The field of play
Each player on a Rugby League team has a special position. Each team has
a player in each position. Players need to learn special skills for the position
that they play. Any player can score a try or kick a goal.
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Footbscrum
a way to restart play after a rule has
been broken. The forwards from each team
lock their arms and, with their heads down,
push against each other while trying to
compete for the ball.
The forwards
There are six forwards, numbered 8 to 13.
The job of the forwards is to get the ball and
to hold onto it so that the opposing team
doesn’t take it. They are most often involved
in tackling. The six forwards form the
scrum. Forwards need to be very strong.
The backs
There are seven backs,
numbered 1 to 7. The backs
must be fast and they must
have great ball-handling
skills. They have a defensive
role. This means that their
job is to stop the opposition
from scoring tries or goals.
They also have to get the
ball up to the goal line so
that they can score.
lt’s a fact!
Each player on a Rugby
League team has a number
on the back of their jersey.
This number shows
the player’s position
on the field.
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Rugby League
competitions
There are many different levels of Rugby League
competitions. These include competitions for
professional leagues, semi-professional leagues,
amateur leagues and junior leagues, as well as
primary and secondary school competitions.
There are also international competitions for
Rugby League.
Playing in a school Rugby League
International
Rugby League
competition helps young players
to develop Rugby League skills,
such as passing and tackling.
The Rugby League World Cup is
the biggest event in international
Rugby League. It is held every four
years. Another major international
competition is the Four Nations series,
played by Australia, New Zealand
and England against a fourth Rugby
League nation. In 2010, PNG played
in this series.
Semi-professional leagues
Semi-professional leagues in Australia hold competitions such
as the Queensland Cup and the New South Wales Cup. Many
players from these competitions go on to play in the NRL.
In New Zealand, regional teams compete for the Albert Baskerville
Trophy. In PNG, teams compete for the Bemobile Cup.
Community clubs
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Footbsemi-professional
leagues
Many people want to play Rugby League for community clubs.
These clubs organise amateur competitions in country areas and
in cities. These competitions play an important role in the lives of
communities. Rugby League organisations, such as the NRL, ARL,
NZRL and PNGRFL, provide support for community clubs.
groups of teams made up
of players who are paid to
compete, but do not make
enough money to earn their
living from playing
Rugby League in schools
There are Rugby League competitions for primary and secondary
schools. These competitions are played between teams from
different schools. Rugby League organisations such as the ARL
and the NZRL offer development programs in schools. These
programs help young players learn Rugby League skills.
Rugby League for young players
Semi-professional Rugby League
competitions bring people
from different areas together
There are many Rugby League programs for young players. The Kids
to Kangaroos program offers Rugby League coaching clinics for players
in Australia aged between 5 and 12. There are also mini-leagues
(for players up to age 9) and mod leagues (for players aged between
10 and 12) in Australia and New Zealand. These programs have a
‘Safe Play Code’, which means there is no tackling. Children learn
new skills while playing safely.
lt’s a stat!
More than 1 million
children play some form
of Rugby League in
school programs around
Australasia.
to watch the games. These
competitions play a big role
Rugby League is for everyone
in community life.
Rugby League organisations want everyone to enjoy playing the game. There are
programs to help players at every level of ability. School and community programs
are not just about learning the rules of Rugby League. They also encourage health
and fitness, participation, leadership and team spirit.
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